persuasion book
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
1/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
1
Persuasion
by
Jane Austen
www.freeclassicebooks.com
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
2/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
2
Contents
Chapter 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 2.................................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 3...............................................................................................................................................12
Chapter 4...............................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 5...............................................................................................................................................21
Chapter 6...............................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 7...............................................................................................................................................34
Chapter 8...............................................................................................................................................40
Chapter 9...............................................................................................................................................46
Chapter 10.............................................................................................................................................52
Chapter 11.............................................................................................................................................59
Chapter 12.............................................................................................................................................65
Chapter 13.............................................................................................................................................75
Chapter 14.............................................................................................................................................80
Chapter 15.............................................................................................................................................85
Chapter 16.............................................................................................................................................91
Chapter 17.............................................................................................................................................96
Chapter 18...........................................................................................................................................103
Chapter 19...........................................................................................................................................111
Chapter 20...........................................................................................................................................116
Chapter 21...........................................................................................................................................123
Chapter 22...........................................................................................................................................135
Chapter 23...........................................................................................................................................146
Chapter 24...........................................................................................................................................158
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
3/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
3
Chapter 1 Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, was a man
who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage;
there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed
one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by
contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any
unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs changed naturally intopity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last
century; and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own
history with an interest which never failed. This was the page at which the
favourite volume always opened: "ELLIOT OF KELLYNCH HALL.
"Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth,
daughter of James Stevenson, Esq. of South Park, in the county of
Gloucester, by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born
June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son, November 5,
1789; Mary, born November 20, 1791." Precisely such had the paragraph
originally stood from the printer's hands; but Sir Walter had improved it byadding, for the information of himself and his family, these words, after the
date of Mary's birth-- "Married, December 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of
Charles Musgrove, Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset," and by
inserting most accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his
wife. Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable
family, in the usual terms; how it had been first settled in Cheshire; how
mentioned in Dugdale, serving the office of high sheriff, representing a
borough in three successive parliaments, exertions of loyalty, and dignity of
baronet, in the first year of Charles II, with all the Marys and Elizabeths
they had married; forming altogether two handsome duodecimo pages, andconcluding with the arms and motto:--"Principal seat, Kellynch Hall, in the
county of Somerset," and Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:--
"Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the second
Sir Walter." Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's
character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably
handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few
women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor
could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he
held in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the
blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts,was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion. His good looks
and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since to them he must
have owed a wife of very superior character to any thing deserved by his
own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable;
whose judgement and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful
infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never required indulgence
afterwards.--She had humoured, or softened, or concealed his failings, and
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
4/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
4
promoted his real respectability for seventeen years; and though not the very
happiest being in the world herself, had found enough in her duties, her
friends, and her children, to attach her to life, and make it no matter of
indifference to her when she was called on to quit them.--Three girls, the
two eldest sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to
bequeath, an awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidanceof a conceited, silly father. She had, however, one very intimate friend, a
sensible, deserving woman, who had been brought, by strong attachment to
herself, to settle close by her, in the village of Kellynch; and on her kindness
and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of
the good principles and instruction which she had been anxiously giving her
daughters. This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have
been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance. Thirteen years had
passed away since Lady Elliot's death, and they were still near neighbours
and intimate friends, and one remained a widower, the other a widow. That
Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well provided for,should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no apology to the
public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably discontented when a woman
does marry again, than when she does not; but Sir Walter's continuing in
singleness requires explanation. Be it known then, that Sir Walter, like a
good father, (having met with one or two private disappointments in very
unreasonable applications), prided himself on remaining single for his dear
daughters' sake. For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up
any thing, which he had not been very much tempted to do. Elizabeth had
succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights and
consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influencehad always been great, and they had gone on together most happily. His
two other children were of very inferior value. Mary had acquired a little
artificial importance, by becoming Mrs Charles Musgrove; but Anne, with an
elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her
high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or
sister; her word had no weight, her convenience was always to give way--she
was only Anne. To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly
valued god-daughter, favourite, and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but
it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again. A few
years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom hadvanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to
admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate features and mild dark
eyes from his own), there could be nothing in them, now that she was faded
and thin, to excite his esteem. He had never indulged much hope, he had
now none, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work.
All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely
connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
5/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
5
fortune, and had therefore given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth
would, one day or other, marry suitably. It sometimes happens that a
woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before; and,
generally speaking, if there has been neither ill health nor anxiety, it is a
time of life at which scarcely any charm is lost. It was so with Elizabeth,
still the same handsome Miss Elliot that she had begun to be thirteen yearsago, and Sir Walter might be excused, therefore, in forgetting her age, or, at
least, be deemed only half a fool, for thinking himself and Elizabeth as
blooming as ever, amidst the wreck of the good looks of everybody else; for
he could plainly see how old all the rest of his family and acquaintance were
growing. Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood
worsting, and the rapid increase of the crow's foot about Lady Russell's
temples had long been a distress to him. Elizabeth did not quite equal her
father in personal contentment. Thirteen years had seen her mistress of
Kellynch Hall, presiding and directing with a self-possession and decision
which could never have given the idea of her being younger than she was.For thirteen years had she been doing the honours, and laying down the
domestic law at home, and leading the way to the chaise and four, and
walking immediately after Lady Russell out of all the drawing-rooms and
dining-rooms in the country. Thirteen winters' revolving frosts had seen her
opening every ball of credit which a scanty neighbourhood afforded, and
thirteen springs shewn their blossoms, as she travelled up to London with
her father, for a few weeks' annual enjoyment of the great world. She had
the remembrance of all this, she had the consciousness of being nine-and-
twenty to give her some regrets and some apprehensions; she was fully
satisfied of being still quite as handsome as ever, but she felt her approachto the years of danger, and would have rejoiced to be certain of being
properly solicited by baronet-blood within the next twelvemonth or two.
Then might she again take up the book of books with as much enjoyment as
in her early youth, but now she liked it not. Always to be presented with the
date of her own birth and see no marriage follow but that of a youngest
sister, made the book an evil; and more than once, when her father had left
it open on the table near her, had she closed it, with averted eyes, and
pushed it away. She had had a disappointment, moreover, which that book,
and especially the history of her own family, must ever present the
remembrance of. The heir presumptive, the very William Walter Elliot, Esq.,whose rights had been so generously supported by her father, had
disappointed her. She had, while a very young girl, as soon as she had
known him to be, in the event of her having no brother, the future baronet,
meant to marry him, and her father had always meant that she should. He
had not been known to them as a boy; but soon after Lady Elliot's death, Sir
Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not been
met with any warmth, he had persevered in seeking it, making allowance for
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
6/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
6
the modest drawing-back of youth; and, in one of their spring excursions to
London, when Elizabeth was in her first bloom, Mr Elliot had been forced
into the introduction. He was at that time a very young man, just engaged in
the study of the law; and Elizabeth found him extremely agreeable, and
every plan in his favour was confirmed. He was invited to Kellynch Hall; he
was talked of and expected all the rest of the year; but he never came. Thefollowing spring he was seen again in town, found equally agreeable, again
encouraged, invited, and expected, and again he did not come; and the next
tidings were that he was married. Instead of pushing his fortune in the line
marked out for the heir of the house of Elliot, he had purchased
independence by uniting himself to a rich woman of inferior birth. Sir Walter
has resented it. As the head of the house, he felt that he ought to have been
consulted, especially after taking the young man so publicly by the hand;
"For they must have been seen together," he observed, "once at Tattersall's,
and twice in the lobby of the House of Commons." His disapprobation was
expressed, but apparently very little regarded. Mr Elliot had attempted noapology, and shewn himself as unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the
family, as Sir Walter considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance
between them had ceased. This very awkward history of Mr Elliot was still,
after an interval of several years, felt with anger by Elizabeth, who had liked
the man for himself, and still more for being her father's heir, and whose
strong family pride could see only in him a proper match for Sir Walter
Elliot's eldest daughter. There was not a baronet from A to Z whom her
feelings could have so willingly acknowledged as an equal. Yet so miserably
had he conducted himself, that though she was at this present time (the
summer of 1814) wearing black ribbons for his wife, she could not admithim to be worth thinking of again. The disgrace of his first marriage might,
perhaps, as there was no reason to suppose it perpetuated by offspring,
have been got over, had he not done worse; but he had, as by the
accustomary intervention of kind friends, they had been informed, spoken
most disrespectfully of them all, most slightingly and contemptuously of the
very blood he belonged to, and the honours which were hereafter to be his
own. This could not be pardoned. Such were Elizabeth Elliot's sentiments
and sensations; such the cares to alloy, the agitations to vary, the sameness
and the elegance, the prosperity and the nothingness of her scene of life;
such the feelings to give interest to a long, uneventful residence in onecountry circle, to fill the vacancies which there were no habits of utility
abroad, no talents or accomplishments for home, to occupy. But now,
another occupation and solicitude of mind was beginning to be added to
these. Her father was growing distressed for money. She knew, that when
he now took up the Baronetage, it was to drive the heavy bills of his
tradespeople, and the unwelcome hints of Mr Shepherd, his agent, from his
thoughts. The Kellynch property was good, but not equal to Sir Walter's
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
7/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
7
apprehension of the state required in its possessor. While Lady Elliot lived,
there had been method, moderation, and economy, which had just kept him
within his income; but with her had died all such right-mindedness, and
from that period he had been constantly exceeding it. It had not been
possible for him to spend less; he had done nothing but what Sir Walter
Elliot was imperiously called on to do; but blameless as he was, he was notonly growing dreadfully in debt, but was hearing of it so often, that it
became vain to attempt concealing it longer, even partially, from his
daughter. He had given her some hints of it the last spring in town; he had
gone so far even as to say, "Can we retrench? Does it occur to you that
there is any one article in which we can retrench?" and Elizabeth, to do her
justice, had, in the first ardour of female alarm, set seriously to think what
could be done, and had finally proposed these two branches of economy, to
cut off some unnecessary charities, and to refrain from new furnishing the
drawing-room; to which expedients she afterwards added the happy thought
of their taking no present down to Anne, as had been the usual yearlycustom. But these measures, however good in themselves, were insufficient
for the real extent of the evil, the whole of which Sir Walter found himself
obliged to confess to her soon afterwards. Elizabeth had nothing to propose
of deeper efficacy. She felt herself ill-used and unfortunate, as did her
father; and they were neither of them able to devise any means of lessening
their expenses without compromising their dignity, or relinquishing their
comforts in a way not to be borne. There was only a small part of his estate
that Sir Walter could dispose of; but had every acre been alienable, it would
have made no difference. He had condescended to mortgage as far as he
had the power, but he would never condescend to sell. No; he would neverdisgrace his name so far. The Kellynch estate should be transmitted whole
and entire, as he had received it. Their two confidential friends, Mr
Shepherd, who lived in the neighbouring market town, and Lady Russell,
were called to advise them; and both father and daughter seemed to expect
that something should be struck out by one or the other to remove their
embarrassments and reduce their expenditure, without involving the loss of
any indulgence of taste or pride.
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
8/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
8
Chapter 2 Mr Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be
his hold or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable
prompted by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint,
and only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully expected
to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see finally
adopted. Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject, and gave
it much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of
quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this instance
were great, from the opposition of two leading principles. She was of strict
integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; but she was as desirous of
saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous for the credit of the family, as
aristocratic in her ideas of what was due to them, as anybody of sense and
honesty could well be. She was a benevolent, charitable, good woman, andcapable of strong attachments, most correct in her conduct, strict in her
notions of decorum, and with manners that were held a standard of good-
breeding. She had a cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational
and consistent; but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry; she had a
value for rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of
those who possessed them. Herself the widow of only a knight, she gave the
dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his claims as
an old acquaintance, an attentive neighbour, an obliging landlord, the
husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and her sisters, was, as
being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to a great deal of compassion
and consideration under his present difficulties. They must retrench; that
did not admit of a doubt. But she was very anxious to have it done with the
least possible pain to him and Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy, she
made exact calculations, and she did what nobody else thought of doing:
she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having
any interest in the question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced
by her in marking out the scheme of retrenchment which was at last
submitted to Sir Walter. Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of
honesty against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more
complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of
indifference for everything but justice and equity. "If we can persuade your
father to all this," said Lady Russell, looking over her paper, "much may be
done. If he will adopt these regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and
I hope we may be able to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has
a respectability in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions; and
that the true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened in the
eyes of sensible people, by acting like a man of principle. What will he be
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
9/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
9
doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have done, or ought
to do? There will be nothing singular in his case; and it is singularity which
often makes the worst part of our suffering, as it always does of our
conduct. I have great hope of prevailing. We must be serious and decided;
for after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them; and
though a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman, and the head of ahouse, like your father, there is still more due to the character of an honest
man." This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be
proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act of
indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all the
expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, and
saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed, and
felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence highly; and as to the
severe degree of self-denial which her own conscience prompted, she
believed there might be little more difficulty in persuading them to a
complete, than to half a reformation. Her knowledge of her father andElizabeth inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would
be hardly less painful than of both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady
Russell's too gentle reductions. How Anne's more rigid requisitions might
have been taken is of little consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at
all: could not be put up with, were not to be borne. "What! every comfort of
life knocked off! Journeys, London, servants, horses, table--contractions and
restrictions every where! To live no longer with the decencies even of a
private gentleman! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once, than
remain in it on such disgraceful terms." "Quit Kellynch Hall." The hint was
immediately taken up by Mr Shepherd, whose interest was involved in thereality of Sir Walter's retrenching, and who was perfectly persuaded that
nothing would be done without a change of abode. "Since the idea had been
started in the very quarter which ought to dictate, he had no scruple," he
said, "in confessing his judgement to be entirely on that side. It did not
appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of living in a
house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient dignity to
support. In any other place Sir Walter might judge for himself; and would
be looked up to, as regulating the modes of life in whatever way he might
choose to model his household." Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and
after a very few days more of doubt and indecision, the great question ofwhither he should go was settled, and the first outline of this important
change made out. There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or
another house in the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter. A
small house in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady
Russell's society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes
seeing the lawns and groves of Kellynch, was the object of her ambition.
But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something very opposite
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
10/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
10
from her inclination fixed on. She disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed
with her; and Bath was to be her home. Sir Walter had at first thought more
of London; but Mr Shepherd felt that he could not be trusted in London, and
had been skilful enough to dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred.
It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might
there be important at comparatively little expense. Two material advantagesof Bath over London had of course been given all their weight: its more
convenient distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's
spending some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction
of Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for
Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should lose
neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there. Lady Russell felt
obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes. It would be too much to
expect Sir Walter to descend into a small house in his own neighbourhood.
Anne herself would have found the mortifications of it more than she
foresaw, and to Sir Walter's feelings they must have been dreadful. Andwith regard to Anne's dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and
mistake arising, first, from the circumstance of her having been three years
at school there, after her mother's death; and secondly, from her happening
to be not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards
spent there with herself. Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and
disposed to think it must suit them all; and as to her young friend's health,
by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger
would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health
and spirits good. Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her
spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted herto be more known. The undesirableness of any other house in the same
neighbourhood for Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part,
and a very material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted
on the beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the
hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's
have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, however, was a
profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own circle. Sir Walter could
not have borne the degradation of being known to design letting his house.
Mr Shepherd had once mentioned the word "advertise," but never dared
approach it again. Sir Walter spurned the idea of its being offered in anymanner; forbad the slightest hint being dropped of his having such an
intention; and it was only on the supposition of his being spontaneously
solicited by some most unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as
a great favour, that he would let it at all. How quick come the reasons for
approving what we like! Lady Russell had another excellent one at hand, for
being extremely glad that Sir Walter and his family were to remove from the
country. Elizabeth had been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
11/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
11
to see interrupted. It was with the daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had
returned, after an unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the
additional burden of two children. She was a clever young woman, who
understood the art of pleasing--the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall;
and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been
already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady Russell, whothought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution and reserve.
Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and seemed
to love her, rather because she would love her, than because Elizabeth
deserved it. She had never received from her more than outward attention,
nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had never succeeded in
any point which she wanted to carry, against previous inclination. She had
been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to
London, sensibly open to all the injustice and all the discredit of the selfish
arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser occasions had
endeavoured to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgementand experience; but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and
never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in
this selection of Mrs Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister,
to bestow her affection and confidence on one who ought to have been
nothing to her but the object of distant civility. From situation, Mrs Clay
was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she
believed a very dangerous companion; and a removal that would leave Mrs
Clay behind, and bring a choice of more suitable intimates within Miss
Elliot's reach, was therefore an object of first-rate importance.
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
12/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
12
Chapter 3 "I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter," said Mr Shepherd one
morning at Kellynch Hall, as he laid down the newspaper, "that the present
juncture is much in our favour. This peace will be turning all our rich naval
officers ashore. They will be all wanting a home. Could not be a better time,Sir Walter, for having a choice of tenants, very responsible tenants. Many a
noble fortune has been made during the war. If a rich admiral were to come
in our way, Sir Walter--" "He would be a very lucky man, Shepherd," replied
Sir Walter; "that's all I have to remark. A prize indeed would Kellynch Hall
be to him; rather the greatest prize of all, let him have taken ever so many
before; hey, Shepherd?" Mr Shepherd laughed, as he knew he must, at this
wit, and then added-- "I presume to observe, Sir Walter, that, in the way of
business, gentlemen of the navy are well to deal with. I have had a little
knowledge of their methods of doing business; and I am free to confess that
they have very liberal notions, and are as likely to make desirable tenants asany set of people one should meet with. Therefore, Sir Walter, what I would
take leave to suggest is, that if in consequence of any rumours getting
abroad of your intention; which must be contemplated as a possible thing,
because we know how difficult it is to keep the actions and designs of one
part of the world from the notice and curiosity of the other; consequence has
its tax; I, John Shepherd, might conceal any family-matters that I chose, for
nobody would think it worth their while to observe me; but Sir Walter Elliot
has eyes upon him which it may be very difficult to elude; and therefore,
thus much I venture upon, that it will not greatly surprise me if, with all our
caution, some rumour of the truth should get abroad; in the supposition of
which, as I was going to observe, since applications will unquestionably
follow, I should think any from our wealthy naval commanders particularly
worth attending to; and beg leave to add, that two hours will bring me over
at any time, to save you the trouble of replying." Sir Walter only nodded.
But soon afterwards, rising and pacing the room, he observed sarcastically--
"There are few among the gentlemen of the navy, I imagine, who would not
be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description." "They would
look around them, no doubt, and bless their good fortune," said Mrs Clay,
for Mrs Clay was present: her father had driven her over, nothing being of
so much use to Mrs Clay's health as a drive to Kellynch: "but I quite agree
with my father in thinking a sailor might be a very desirable tenant. I have
known a good deal of the profession; and besides their liberality, they are so
neat and careful in all their ways! These valuable pictures of yours, Sir
Walter, if you chose to leave them, would be perfectly safe. Everything in
and about the house would be taken such excellent care of! The gardens
and shrubberies would be kept in almost as high order as they are now.
You need not be afraid, Miss Elliot, of your own sweet flower gardens being
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
13/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
13
neglected." "As to all that," rejoined Sir Walter coolly, "supposing I were
induced to let my house, I have by no means made up my mind as to the
privileges to be annexed to it. I am not particularly disposed to favour a
tenant. The park would be open to him of course, and few navy officers, or
men of any other description, can have had such a range; but what
restrictions I might impose on the use of the pleasure-grounds, is anotherthing. I am not fond of the idea of my shrubberies being always
approachable; and I should recommend Miss Elliot to be on her guard with
respect to her flower garden. I am very little disposed to grant a tenant of
Kellynch Hall any extraordinary favour, I assure you, be he sailor or soldier."
After a short pause, Mr Shepherd presumed to say-- "In all these cases,
there are established usages which make everything plain and easy between
landlord and tenant. Your interest, Sir Walter, is in pretty safe hands.
Depend upon me for taking care that no tenant has more than his just
rights. I venture to hint, that Sir Walter Elliot cannot be half so jealous for
his own, as John Shepherd will be for him." Here Anne spoke-- "The navy, Ithink, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any
other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home
can give. Sailors work hard enough for their comforts, we must all allow."
"Very true, very true. What Miss Anne says, is very true," was Mr
Shepherd's rejoinder, and "Oh! certainly," was his daughter's; but Sir
Walter's remark was, soon afterwards-- "The profession has its utility, but I
should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it." "Indeed!" was the
reply, and with a look of surprise. "Yes; it is in two points offensive to me; I
have two strong grounds of objection to it. First, as being the means of
bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men tohonours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and
secondly, as it cuts up a man's youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor
grows old sooner than any other man. I have observed it all my life. A man
is in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose
father, his father might have disdained to speak to, and of becoming
prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other line. One day
last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of
what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father we all know to have been a
country curate, without bread to eat; I was to give place to Lord St Ives, and
a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable-looking personage you canimagine; his face the colour of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last
degree; all lines and wrinkles, nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a
dab of powder at top. 'In the name of heaven, who is that old fellow?' said I
to a friend of mine who was standing near, (Sir Basil Morley). 'Old fellow!'
cried Sir Basil, 'it is Admiral Baldwin. What do you take his age to be?'
'Sixty,' said I, 'or perhaps sixty-two.' 'Forty,' replied Sir Basil, 'forty, and no
more.' Picture to yourselves my amazement; I shall not easily forget Admiral
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
14/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
14
Baldwin. I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a sea-faring life
can do; but to a degree, I know it is the same with them all: they are all
knocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they
are not fit to be seen. It is a pity they are not knocked on the head at once,
before they reach Admiral Baldwin's age." "Nay, Sir Walter," cried Mrs Clay,
"this is being severe indeed. Have a little mercy on the poor men. We arenot all born to be handsome. The sea is no beautifier, certainly; sailors do
grow old betimes; I have observed it; they soon lose the look of youth. But
then, is not it the same with many other professions, perhaps most other?
Soldiers, in active service, are not at all better off: and even in the quieter
professions, there is a toil and a labour of the mind, if not of the body, which
seldom leaves a man's looks to the natural effect of time. The lawyer plods,
quite care-worn; the physician is up at all hours, and travelling in all
weather; and even the clergyman--" she stopt a moment to consider what
might do for the clergyman;--"and even the clergyman, you know is obliged
to go into infected rooms, and expose his health and looks to all the injury ofa poisonous atmosphere. In fact, as I have long been convinced, though
every profession is necessary and honourable in its turn, it is only the lot of
those who are not obliged to follow any, who can live in a regular way, in the
country, choosing their own hours, following their own pursuits, and living
on their own property, without the torment of trying for more; it is only their
lot, I say, to hold the blessings of health and a good appearance to the
utmost: I know no other set of men but what lose something of their
personableness when they cease to be quite young." It seemed as if Mr
Shepherd, in this anxiety to bespeak Sir Walter's good will towards a naval
officer as tenant, had been gifted with foresight; for the very first applicationfor the house was from an Admiral Croft, with whom he shortly afterwards
fell into company in attending the quarter sessions at Taunton; and indeed,
he had received a hint of the Admiral from a London correspondent. By the
report which he hastened over to Kellynch to make, Admiral Croft was a
native of Somersetshire, who having acquired a very handsome fortune, was
wishing to settle in his own country, and had come down to Taunton in
order to look at some advertised places in that immediate neighbourhood,
which, however, had not suited him; that accidentally hearing--(it was just
as he had foretold, Mr Shepherd observed, Sir Walter's concerns could not
be kept a secret,)--accidentally hearing of the possibility of Kellynch Hallbeing to let, and understanding his (Mr Shepherd's) connection with the
owner, he had introduced himself to him in order to make particular
inquiries, and had, in the course of a pretty long conference, expressed as
strong an inclination for the place as a man who knew it only by description
could feel; and given Mr Shepherd, in his explicit account of himself, every
proof of his being a most responsible, eligible tenant. "And who is Admiral
Croft?" was Sir Walter's cold suspicious inquiry. Mr Shepherd answered for
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
15/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
15
his being of a gentleman's family, and mentioned a place; and Anne, after
the little pause which followed, added-- "He is a rear admiral of the white.
He was in the Trafalgar action, and has been in the East Indies since; he
was stationed there, I believe, several years." "Then I take it for granted,"
observed Sir Walter, "that his face is about as orange as the cuffs and capes
of my livery." Mr Shepherd hastened to assure him, that Admiral Croft was avery hale, hearty, well-looking man, a little weather-beaten, to be sure, but
not much, and quite the gentleman in all his notions and behaviour; not
likely to make the smallest difficulty about terms, only wanted a comfortable
home, and to get into it as soon as possible; knew he must pay for his
convenience; knew what rent a ready-furnished house of that consequence
might fetch; should not have been surprised if Sir Walter had asked more;
had inquired about the manor; would be glad of the deputation, certainly,
but made no great point of it; said he sometimes took out a gun, but never
killed; quite the gentleman. Mr Shepherd was eloquent on the subject;
pointing out all the circumstances of the Admiral's family, which made himpeculiarly desirable as a tenant. He was a married man, and without
children; the very state to be wished for. A house was never taken good care
of, Mr Shepherd observed, without a lady: he did not know, whether
furniture might not be in danger of suffering as much where there was no
lady, as where there were many children. A lady, without a family, was the
very best preserver of furniture in the world. He had seen Mrs Croft, too;
she was at Taunton with the admiral, and had been present almost all the
time they were talking the matter over. "And a very well-spoken, genteel,
shrewd lady, she seemed to be," continued he; "asked more questions about
the house, and terms, and taxes, than the Admiral himself, and seemedmore conversant with business; and moreover, Sir Walter, I found she was
not quite unconnected in this country, any more than her husband; that is
to say, she is sister to a gentleman who did live amongst us once; she told
me so herself: sister to the gentleman who lived a few years back at
Monkford. Bless me! what was his name? At this moment I cannot recollect
his name, though I have heard it so lately. Penelope, my dear, can you help
me to the name of the gentleman who lived at Monkford: Mrs Croft's
brother?" But Mrs Clay was talking so eagerly with Miss Elliot, that she did
not hear the appeal. "I have no conception whom you can mean, Shepherd; I
remember no gentleman resident at Monkford since the time of old Governor Trent." "Bless me! how very odd! I shall forget my own name soon, I
suppose. A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the
gentleman so well by sight; seen him a hundred times; came to consult me
once, I remember, about a trespass of one of his neighbours; farmer's man
breaking into his orchard; wall torn down; apples stolen; caught in the fact;
and afterwards, contrary to my judgement, submitted to an amicable
compromise. Very odd indeed!" After waiting another moment-- "You mean
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
16/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
16
Mr Wentworth, I suppose?" said Anne. Mr Shepherd was all gratitude.
"Wentworth was the very name! Mr Wentworth was the very man. He had
the curacy of Monkford, you know, Sir Walter, some time back, for two or
three years. Came there about the year ---5, I take it. You remember him, I
am sure." "Wentworth? Oh! ay,--Mr Wentworth, the curate of Monkford.
You misled me by the term gentleman. I thought you were speaking of someman of property: Mr Wentworth was nobody, I remember; quite
unconnected; nothing to do with the Strafford family. One wonders how the
names of many of our nobility become so common." As Mr Shepherd
perceived that this connexion of the Crofts did them no service with Sir
Walter, he mentioned it no more; returning, with all his zeal, to dwell on the
circumstances more indisputably in their favour; their age, and number,
and fortune; the high idea they had formed of Kellynch Hall, and extreme
solicitude for the advantage of renting it; making it appear as if they ranked
nothing beyond the happiness of being the tenants of Sir Walter Elliot: an
extraordinary taste, certainly, could they have been supposed in the secretof Sir Walter's estimate of the dues of a tenant. It succeeded, however; and
though Sir Walter must ever look with an evil eye on anyone intending to
inhabit that house, and think them infinitely too well off in being permitted
to rent it on the highest terms, he was talked into allowing Mr Shepherd to
proceed in the treaty, and authorising him to wait on Admiral Croft, who
still remained at Taunton, and fix a day for the house being seen. Sir Walter
was not very wise; but still he had experience enough of the world to feel,
that a more unobjectionable tenant, in all essentials, than Admiral Croft bid
fair to be, could hardly offer. So far went his understanding; and his vanity
supplied a little additional soothing, in the Admiral's situation in life, whichwas just high enough, and not too high. "I have let my house to Admiral
Croft," would sound extremely well; very much better than to any mere Mr--;
a Mr (save, perhaps, some half dozen in the nation,) always needs a note of
explanation. An admiral speaks his own consequence, and, at the same
time, can never make a baronet look small. In all their dealings and
intercourse, Sir Walter Elliot must ever have the precedence. Nothing could
be done without a reference to Elizabeth: but her inclination was growing so
strong for a removal, that she was happy to have it fixed and expedited by a
tenant at hand; and not a word to suspend decision was uttered by her. Mr
Shepherd was completely empowered to act; and no sooner had such an endbeen reached, than Anne, who had been a most attentive listener to the
whole, left the room, to seek the comfort of cool air for her flushed cheeks;
and as she walked along a favourite grove, said, with a gentle sigh, "A few
months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here."
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
17/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
17
Chapter 4 He was not Mr Wentworth, the former curate of Monkford,
however suspicious appearances may be, but a Captain Frederick
Wentworth, his brother, who being made commander in consequence of the
action off St Domingo, and not immediately employed, had come intoSomersetshire, in the summer of 1806; and having no parent living, found a
home for half a year at Monkford. He was, at that time, a remarkably fine
young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy; and Anne
an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste, and feeling. Half
the sum of attraction, on either side, might have been enough, for he had
nothing to do, and she had hardly anybody to love; but the encounter of
such lavish recommendations could not fail. They were gradually
acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love. It would be
difficult to say which had seen highest perfection in the other, or which had
been the happiest: she, in receiving his declarations and proposals, or he inhaving them accepted. A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a
short one. Troubles soon arose. Sir Walter, on being applied to, without
actually withholding his consent, or saying it should never be, gave it all the
negative of great astonishment, great coldness, great silence, and a
professed resolution of doing nothing for his daughter. He thought it a very
degrading alliance; and Lady Russell, though with more tempered and
pardonable pride, received it as a most unfortunate one. Anne Elliot, with all
her claims of birth, beauty, and mind, to throw herself away at nineteen;
involve herself at nineteen in an engagement with a young man, who had
nothing but himself to recommend him, and no hopes of attaining affluence,
but in the chances of a most uncertain profession, and no connexions to
secure even his farther rise in the profession, would be, indeed, a throwing
away, which she grieved to think of! Anne Elliot, so young; known to so few,
to be snatched off by a stranger without alliance or fortune; or rather sunk
by him into a state of most wearing, anxious, youth-killing dependence! It
must not be, if by any fair interference of friendship, any representations
from one who had almost a mother's love, and mother's rights, it would be
prevented. Captain Wentworth had no fortune. He had been lucky in his
profession; but spending freely, what had come freely, had realized nothing.
But he was confident that he should soon be rich: full of life and ardour, he
knew that he should soon have a ship, and soon be on a station that would
lead to everything he wanted. He had always been lucky; he knew he
should be so still. Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, and
bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been enough for
Anne; but Lady Russell saw it very differently. His sanguine temper, and
fearlessness of mind, operated very differently on her. She saw in it but an
aggravation of the evil. It only added a dangerous character to himself. He
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
18/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
18
was brilliant, he was headstrong. Lady Russell had little taste for wit, and of
anything approaching to imprudence a horror. She deprecated the
connexion in every light. Such opposition, as these feelings produced, was
more than Anne could combat. Young and gentle as she was, it might yet
have been possible to withstand her father's ill-will, though unsoftened by
one kind word or look on the part of her sister; but Lady Russell, whom shehad always loved and relied on, could not, with such steadiness of opinion,
and such tenderness of manner, be continually advising her in vain. She
was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing: indiscreet,
improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. But it was not a
merely selfish caution, under which she acted, in putting an end to it. Had
she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more than her own, she
could hardly have given him up. The belief of being prudent, and self-
denying, principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the
misery of a parting, a final parting; and every consolation was required, for
she had to encounter all the additional pain of opinions, on his side, totallyunconvinced and unbending, and of his feeling himself ill used by so forced
a relinquishment. He had left the country in consequence. A few months
had seen the beginning and the end of their acquaintance; but not with a
few months ended Anne's share of suffering from it. Her attachment and
regrets had, for a long time, clouded every enjoyment of youth, and an early
loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting effect. More than seven years
were gone since this little history of sorrowful interest had reached its close;
and time had softened down much, perhaps nearly all of peculiar
attachment to him, but she had been too dependent on time alone; no aid
had been given in change of place (except in one visit to Bath soon after therupture), or in any novelty or enlargement of society. No one had ever come
within the Kellynch circle, who could bear a comparison with Frederick
Wentworth, as he stood in her memory. No second attachment, the only
thoroughly natural, happy, and sufficient cure, at her time of life, had been
possible to the nice tone of her mind, the fastidiousness of her taste, in the
small limits of the society around them. She had been solicited, when about
two-and-twenty, to change her name, by the young man, who not long
afterwards found a more willing mind in her younger sister; and Lady
Russell had lamented her refusal; for Charles Musgrove was the eldest son
of a man, whose landed property and general importance were second inthat country, only to Sir Walter's, and of good character and appearance;
and however Lady Russell might have asked yet for something more, while
Anne was nineteen, she would have rejoiced to see her at twenty-two so
respectably removed from the partialities and injustice of her father's house,
and settled so permanently near herself. But in this case, Anne had left
nothing for advice to do; and though Lady Russell, as satisfied as ever with
her own discretion, never wished the past undone, she began now to have
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
19/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
19
the anxiety which borders on hopelessness for Anne's being tempted, by
some man of talents and independence, to enter a state for which she held
her to be peculiarly fitted by her warm affections and domestic habits. They
knew not each other's opinion, either its constancy or its change, on the one
leading point of Anne's conduct, for the subject was never alluded to; but
Anne, at seven-and-twenty, thought very differently from what she had beenmade to think at nineteen. She did not blame Lady Russell, she did not
blame herself for having been guided by her; but she felt that were any
young person, in similar circumstances, to apply to her for counsel, they
would never receive any of such certain immediate wretchedness, such
uncertain future good. She was persuaded that under every disadvantage of
disapprobation at home, and every anxiety attending his profession, all their
probable fears, delays, and disappointments, she should yet have been a
happier woman in maintaining the engagement, than she had been in the
sacrifice of it; and this, she fully believed, had the usual share, had even
more than the usual share of all such solicitudes and suspense been theirs,without reference to the actual results of their case, which, as it happened,
would have bestowed earlier prosperity than could be reasonably calculated
on. All his sanguine expectations, all his confidence had been justified. His
genius and ardour had seemed to foresee and to command his prosperous
path. He had, very soon after their engagement ceased, got employ: and all
that he had told her would follow, had taken place. He had distinguished
himself, and early gained the other step in rank, and must now, by
successive captures, have made a handsome fortune. She had only navy
lists and newspapers for her authority, but she could not doubt his being
rich; and, in favour of his constancy, she had no reason to believe himmarried. How eloquent could Anne Elliot have been! how eloquent, at least,
were her wishes on the side of early warm attachment, and a cheerful
confidence in futurity, against that over-anxious caution which seems to
insult exertion and distrust Providence! She had been forced into prudence
in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of
an unnatural beginning. With all these circumstances, recollections and
feelings, she could not hear that Captain Wentworth's sister was likely to
live at Kellynch without a revival of former pain; and many a stroll, and
many a sigh, were necessary to dispel the agitation of the idea. She often
told herself it was folly, before she could harden her nerves sufficiently tofeel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their business no evil. She
was assisted, however, by that perfect indifference and apparent
unconsciousness, among the only three of her own friends in the secret of
the past, which seemed almost to deny any recollection of it. She could do
justice to the superiority of Lady Russell's motives in this, over those of her
father and Elizabeth; she could honour all the better feelings of her
calmness; but the general air of oblivion among them was highly important
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
20/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
20
from whatever it sprung; and in the event of Admiral Croft's really taking
Kellynch Hall, she rejoiced anew over the conviction which had always been
most grateful to her, of the past being known to those three only among her
connexions, by whom no syllable, she believed, would ever be whispered,
and in the trust that among his, the brother only with whom he had been
residing, had received any information of their short-lived engagement. Thatbrother had been long removed from the country and being a sensible man,
and, moreover, a single man at the time, she had a fond dependence on no
human creature's having heard of it from him. The sister, Mrs Croft, had
then been out of England, accompanying her husband on a foreign station,
and her own sister, Mary, had been at school while it all occurred; and never
admitted by the pride of some, and the delicacy of others, to the smallest
knowledge of it afterwards. With these supports, she hoped that the
acquaintance between herself and the Crofts, which, with Lady Russell, still
resident in Kellynch, and Mary fixed only three miles off, must be
anticipated, need not involve any particular awkwardness.
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
21/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
21
Chapter 5 On the morning appointed for Admiral and Mrs Croft's seeing
Kellynch Hall, Anne found it most natural to take her almost daily walk to
Lady Russell's, and keep out of the way till all was over; when she found it
most natural to be sorry that she had missed the opportunity of seeingthem. This meeting of the two parties proved highly satisfactory, and
decided the whole business at once. Each lady was previously well disposed
for an agreement, and saw nothing, therefore, but good manners in the
other; and with regard to the gentlemen, there was such an hearty good
humour, such an open, trusting liberality on the Admiral's side, as could
not but influence Sir Walter, who had besides been flattered into his very
best and most polished behaviour by Mr Shepherd's assurances of his being
known, by report, to the Admiral, as a model of good breeding. The house
and grounds, and furniture, were approved, the Crofts were approved,
terms, time, every thing, and every body, was right; and Mr Shepherd'sclerks were set to work, without there having been a single preliminary
difference to modify of all that "This indenture sheweth." Sir Walter, without
hesitation, declared the Admiral to be the best-looking sailor he had ever
met with, and went so far as to say, that if his own man might have had the
arranging of his hair, he should not be ashamed of being seen with him any
where; and the Admiral, with sympathetic cordiality, observed to his wife as
they drove back through the park, "I thought we should soon come to a deal,
my dear, in spite of what they told us at Taunton. The Baronet will never
set the Thames on fire, but there seems to be no harm in him."--reciprocal
compliments, which would have been esteemed about equal. The Crofts were
to have possession at Michaelmas; and as Sir Walter proposed removing to
Bath in the course of the preceding month, there was no time to be lost in
making every dependent arrangement. Lady Russell, convinced that Anne
would not be allowed to be of any use, or any importance, in the choice of
the house which they were going to secure, was very unwilling to have her
hurried away so soon, and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind
till she might convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having
engagements of her own which must take her from Kellynch for several
weeks, she was unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne
though dreading the possible heats of September in all the white glare of
Bath, and grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the
autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything considered,
she wished to remain. It would be most right, and most wise, and, therefore
must involve least suffering to go with the others. Something occurred,
however, to give her a different duty. Mary, often a little unwell, and always
thinking a great deal of her own complaints, and always in the habit of
claiming Anne when anything was the matter, was indisposed; and
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
22/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
22
foreseeing that she should not have a day's health all the autumn,
entreated, or rather required her, for it was hardly entreaty, to come to
Uppercross Cottage, and bear her company as long as she should want her,
instead of going to Bath. "I cannot possibly do without Anne," was Mary's
reasoning; and Elizabeth's reply was, "Then I am sure Anne had better stay,
for nobody will want her in Bath." To be claimed as a good, though in animproper style, is at least better than being rejected as no good at all; and
Anne, glad to be thought of some use, glad to have anything marked out as
a duty, and certainly not sorry to have the scene of it in the country, and
her own dear country, readily agreed to stay. This invitation of Mary's
removed all Lady Russell's difficulties, and it was consequently soon settled
that Anne should not go to Bath till Lady Russell took her, and that all the
intervening time should be divided between Uppercross Cottage and
Kellynch Lodge. So far all was perfectly right; but Lady Russell was almost
startled by the wrong of one part of the Kellynch Hall plan, when it burst on
her, which was, Mrs Clay's being engaged to go to Bath with Sir Walter andElizabeth, as a most important and valuable assistant to the latter in all the
business before her. Lady Russell was extremely sorry that such a measure
should have been resorted to at all, wondered, grieved, and feared; and the
affront it contained to Anne, in Mrs Clay's being of so much use, while Anne
could be of none, was a very sore aggravation. Anne herself was become
hardened to such affronts; but she felt the imprudence of the arrangement
quite as keenly as Lady Russell. With a great deal of quiet observation, and
a knowledge, which she often wished less, of her father's character, she was
sensible that results the most serious to his family from the intimacy were
more than possible. She did not imagine that her father had at present anidea of the kind. Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a
clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in her
absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, and
possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, infinitely
more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might have been.
Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that she could not
excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her sister. She had little
hope of success; but Elizabeth, who in the event of such a reverse would be
so much more to be pitied than herself, should never, she thought, have
reason to reproach her for giving no warning. She spoke, and seemed only tooffend. Elizabeth could not conceive how such an absurd suspicion should
occur to her, and indignantly answered for each party's perfectly knowing
their situation. "Mrs Clay," said she, warmly, "never forgets who she is; and
as I am rather better acquainted with her sentiments than you can be, I can
assure you, that upon the subject of marriage they are particularly nice, and
that she reprobates all inequality of condition and rank more strongly than
most people. And as to my father, I really should not have thought that he,
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
23/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
23
who has kept himself single so long for our sakes, need be suspected now.
If Mrs Clay were a very beautiful woman, I grant you, it might be wrong to
have her so much with me; not that anything in the world, I am sure, would
induce my father to make a degrading match, but he might be rendered
unhappy. But poor Mrs Clay who, with all her merits, can never have been
reckoned tolerably pretty, I really think poor Mrs Clay may be staying herein perfect safety. One would imagine you had never heard my father speak
of her personal misfortunes, though I know you must fifty times. That tooth
of her's and those freckles. Freckles do not disgust me so very much as they
do him. I have known a face not materially disfigured by a few, but he
abominates them. You must have heard him notice Mrs Clay's freckles."
"There is hardly any personal defect," replied Anne, "which an agreeable
manner might not gradually reconcile one to." "I think very differently,"
answered Elizabeth, shortly; "an agreeable manner may set off handsome
features, but can never alter plain ones. However, at any rate, as I have a
great deal more at stake on this point than anybody else can have, I think itrather unnecessary in you to be advising me." Anne had done; glad that it
was over, and not absolutely hopeless of doing good. Elizabeth, though
resenting the suspicion, might yet be made observant by it. The last office of
the four carriage-horses was to draw Sir Walter, Miss Elliot, and Mrs Clay to
Bath. The party drove off in very good spirits; Sir Walter prepared with
condescending bows for all the afflicted tenantry and cottagers who might
have had a hint to show themselves, and Anne walked up at the same time,
in a sort of desolate tranquillity, to the Lodge, where she was to spend the
first week. Her friend was not in better spirits than herself. Lady Russell felt
this break-up of the family exceedingly. Their respectability was as dear toher as her own, and a daily intercourse had become precious by habit. It
was painful to look upon their deserted grounds, and still worse to
anticipate the new hands they were to fall into; and to escape the
solitariness and the melancholy of so altered a village, and be out of the way
when Admiral and Mrs Croft first arrived, she had determined to make her
own absence from home begin when she must give up Anne. Accordingly
their removal was made together, and Anne was set down at Uppercross
Cottage, in the first stage of Lady Russell's journey. Uppercross was a
moderate-sized village, which a few years back had been completely in the
old English style, containing only two houses superior in appearance tothose of the yeomen and labourers; the mansion of the squire, with its high
walls, great gates, and old trees, substantial and unmodernized, and the
compact, tight parsonage, enclosed in its own neat garden, with a vine and a
pear-tree trained round its casements; but upon the marriage of the young
'squire, it had received the improvement of a farm-house elevated into a
cottage, for his residence, and Uppercross Cottage, with its veranda, French
windows, and other prettiness, was quite as likely to catch the traveller's eye
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
24/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
24
as the more consistent and considerable aspect and premises of the Great
House, about a quarter of a mile farther on. Here Anne had often been
staying. She knew the ways of Uppercross as well as those of Kellynch. The
two families were so continually meeting, so much in the habit of running in
and out of each other's house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to
her to find Mary alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spiritswas almost a matter of course. Though better endowed than the elder sister,
Mary had not Anne's understanding nor temper. While well, and happy, and
properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; but
any indisposition sunk her completely. She had no resources for solitude;
and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very
prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-
used. In person, she was inferior to both sisters, and had, even in her
bloom, only reached the dignity of being "a fine girl." She was now lying on
the faded sofa of the pretty little drawing-room, the once elegant furniture of
which had been gradually growing shabby, under the influence of foursummers and two children; and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with--
"So, you are come at last! I began to think I should never see you. I am so
ill I can hardly speak. I have not seen a creature the whole morning!" "I am
sorry to find you unwell," replied Anne. "You sent me such a good account
of yourself on Thursday!" "Yes, I made the best of it; I always do: but I was
very far from well at the time; and I do not think I ever was so ill in my life
as I have been all this morning: very unfit to be left alone, I am sure.
Suppose I were to be seized of a sudden in some dreadful way, and not able
to ring the bell! So, Lady Russell would not get out. I do not think she has
been in this house three times this summer." Anne said what was proper,and enquired after her husband. "Oh! Charles is out shooting. I have not
seen him since seven o'clock. He would go, though I told him how ill I was.
He said he should not stay out long; but he has never come back, and now
it is almost one. I assure you, I have not seen a soul this whole long
morning." "You have had your little boys with you?" "Yes, as long as I could
bear their noise; but they are so unmanageable that they do me more harm
than good. Little Charles does not mind a word I say, and Walter is growing
quite as bad." "Well, you will soon be better now," replied Anne, cheerfully.
"You know I always cure you when I come. How are your neighbours at the
Great House?" "I can give you no account of them. I have not seen one ofthem to-day, except Mr Musgrove, who just stopped and spoke through the
window, but without getting off his horse; and though I told him how ill I
was, not one of them have been near me. It did not happen to suit the Miss
Musgroves, I suppose, and they never put themselves out of their way." "You
will see them yet, perhaps, before the morning is gone. It is early." "I never
want them, I assure you. They talk and laugh a great deal too much for me.
Oh! Anne, I am so very unwell! It was quite unkind of you not to come on
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
25/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
25
Thursday." "My dear Mary, recollect what a comfortable account you sent
me of yourself! You wrote in the cheerfullest manner, and said you were
perfectly well, and in no hurry for me; and that being the case, you must be
aware that my wish would be to remain with Lady Russell to the last: and
besides what I felt on her account, I have really been so busy, have had so
much to do, that I could not very conveniently have left Kellynch sooner.""Dear me! what can you possibly have to do?" "A great many things, I assure
you. More than I can recollect in a moment; but I can tell you some. I have
been making a duplicate of the catalogue of my father's books and pictures.
I have been several times in the garden with Mackenzie, trying to
understand, and make him understand, which of Elizabeth's plants are for
Lady Russell. I have had all my own little concerns to arrange, books and
music to divide, and all my trunks to repack, from not having understood in
time what was intended as to the waggons: and one thing I have had to do,
Mary, of a more trying nature: going to almost every house in the parish, as
a sort of take-leave. I was told that they wished it. But all these things tookup a great deal of time." "Oh! well!" and after a moment's pause, "but you
have never asked me one word about our dinner at the Pooles yesterday."
"Did you go then? I have made no enquiries, because I concluded you must
have been obliged to give up the party." "Oh yes! I went. I was very well
yesterday; nothing at all the matter with me till this morning. It would have
been strange if I had not gone." "I am very glad you were well enough, and I
hope you had a pleasant party." "Nothing remarkable. One always knows
beforehand what the dinner will be, and who will be there; and it is so very
uncomfortable not having a carriage of one's own. Mr and Mrs Musgrove
took me, and we were so crowded! They are both so very large, and take upso much room; and Mr Musgrove always sits forward. So, there was I,
crowded into the back seat with Henrietta and Louise; and I think it very
likely that my illness to-day may be owing to it." A little further perseverance
in patience and forced cheerfulness on Anne's side produced nearly a cure
on Mary's. She could soon sit upright on the sofa, and began to hope she
might be able to leave it by dinner-time. Then, forgetting to think of it, she
was at the other end of the room, beautifying a nosegay; then, she ate her
cold meat; and then she was well enough to propose a little walk. "Where
shall we go?" said she, when they were ready. "I suppose you will not like to
call at the Great House before they have been to see you?" "I have not thesmallest objection on that account," replied Anne. "I should never think of
standing on such ceremony with people I know so well as Mrs and the Miss
Musgroves." "Oh! but they ought to call upon you as soon as possible. They
ought to feel what is due to you as my sister. However, we may as well go
and sit with them a little while, and when we have that over, we can enjoy
our walk." Anne had always thought such a style of intercourse highly
imprudent; but she had ceased to endeavour to check it, from believing that,
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
26/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
26
though there were on each side continual subjects of offence, neither family
could now do without it. To the Great House accordingly they went, to sit
the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, with a small carpet
and shining floor, to which the present daughters of the house were
gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a grand piano-forte and a
harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in every direction. Oh! could theoriginals of the portraits against the wainscot, could the gentlemen in brown
velvet and the ladies in blue satin have seen what was going on, have been
conscious of such an overthrow of all order and neatness! The portraits
themselves seemed to be staring in astonishment. The Musgroves, like their
houses, were in a state of alteration, perhaps of improvement. The father
and mother were in the old English style, and the young people in the new.
Mr and Mrs Musgrove were a very good sort of people; friendly and
hospitable, not much educated, and not at all elegant. Their children had
more modern minds and manners. There was a numerous family; but the
only two grown up, excepting Charles, were Henrietta and Louisa, youngladies of nineteen and twenty, who had brought from school at Exeter all the
usual stock of accomplishments, and were now like thousands of other
young ladies, living to be fashionable, happy, and merry. Their dress had
every advantage, their faces were rather pretty, their spirits extremely good,
their manner unembarrassed and pleasant; they were of consequence at
home, and favourites abroad. Anne always contemplated them as some of
the happiest creatures of her acquaintance; but still, saved as we all are, by
some comfortable feeling of superiority from wishing for the possibility of
exchange, she would not have given up her own more elegant and cultivated
mind for all their enjoyments; and envied them nothing but that seeminglyperfect good understanding and agreement together, that good-humoured
mutual affection, of which she had known so little herself with either of her
sisters. They were received with great cordiality. Nothing seemed amiss on
the side of the Great House family, which was generally, as Anne very well
knew, the least to blame. The half hour was chatted away pleasantly
enough; and she was not at all surprised at the end of it, to have their
walking party joined by both the Miss Musgroves, at Mary's particular
invitation.
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
27/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
27
Chapter 6 Anne had not wanted this visit to Uppercross, to learn that a
removal from one set of people to another, though at a distance of only three
miles, will often include a total change of conversation, opinion, and idea.
She had never been staying there before, without being struck by it, orwithout wishing that other Elliots could have her advantage in seeing how
unknown, or unconsidered there, were the affairs which at Kellynch Hall
were treated as of such general publicity and pervading interest; yet, with all
this experience, she believed she must now submit to feel that another
lesson, in the art of knowing our own nothingness beyond our own circle,
was become necessary for her; for certainly, coming as she did, with a heart
full of the subject which had been completely occupying both houses in
Kellynch for many weeks, she had expected rather more curiosity and
sympathy than she found in the separate but very similar remark of Mr and
Mrs Musgrove: "So, Miss Anne, Sir Walter and your sister are gone; andwhat part of Bath do you think they will settle in?" and this, without much
waiting for an answer; or in the young ladies' addition of, "I hope we shall be
in Bath in the winter; but remember, papa, if we do go, we must be in a
good situation: none of your Queen Squares for us!" or in the anxious
supplement from Mary, of--"Upon my word, I shall be pretty well off, when
you are all gone away to be happy at Bath!" She could only resolve to avoid
such self-delusion in future, and think with heightened gratitude of the
extraordinary blessing of having one such truly sympathising friend as Lady
Russell. The Mr Musgroves had their own game to guard, and to destroy,
their own horses, dogs, and newspapers to engage them, and the females
were fully occupied in all the other common subjects of housekeeping,
neighbours, dress, dancing, and music. She acknowledged it to be very
fitting, that every little social commonwealth should dictate its own matters
of discourse; and hoped, ere long, to become a not unworthy member of the
one she was now transplanted into. With the prospect of spending at least
two months at Uppercross, it was highly incumbent on her to clothe her
imagination, her memory, and all her ideas in as much of Uppercross as
possible. She had no dread of these two months. Mary was not so repulsive
and unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influence of hers;
neither was there anything among the other component parts of the cottage
inimical to comfort. She was always on friendly terms with her brother-in-
law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well, and respected her a
great deal more than their mother, she had an object of interest,
amusement, and wholesome exertion. Charles Musgrove was civil and
agreeable; in sense and temper he was undoubtedly superior to his wife, but
not of powers, or conversation, or grace, to make the past, as they were
connected together, at all a dangerous contemplation; though, at the same
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
28/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
28
time, Anne could believe, with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might
have greatly improved him; and that a woman of real understanding might
have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness,
rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits. As it was, he did
nothing with much zeal, but sport; and his time was otherwise trifled away,
without benefit from books or anything else. He had very good spirits,which never seemed much affected by his wife's occasional lowness, bore
with her unreasonableness sometimes to Anne's admiration, and upon the
whole, though there was very often a little disagreement (in which she had
sometimes more share than she wished, being appealed to by both parties),
they might pass for a happy couple. They were always perfectly agreed in
the want of more money, and a strong inclination for a handsome present
from his father; but here, as on most topics, he had the superiority, for
while Mary thought it a great shame that such a present was not made, he
always contended for his father's having many other uses for his money,
and a right to spend it as he liked. As to the management of their children,his theory was much better than his wife's, and his practice not so bad. "I
could manage them very well, if it were not for Mary's interference," was
what Anne often heard him say, and had a good deal of faith in; but when
listening in turn to Mary's reproach of "Charles spoils the children so that I
cannot get them into any order," she never had the smallest temptation to
say, "Very true." One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence
there was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and
being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house. Known to
have some influence with her sister, she was continually requested, or at
least receiving hints to exert it, beyond what was practicable. "I wish youcould persuade Mary not to be always fancying herself ill," was Charles's
language; and, in an unhappy mood, thus spoke Mary: "I do believe if
Charles were to see me dying, he would not think there was anything the
matter with me. I am sure, Anne, if you would, you might persuade him
that I really am very ill--a great deal worse than I ever own." Mary's
declaration was, "I hate sending the children to the Great House, though
their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she humours and
indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much trash and sweet
things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross for the rest of the
day." And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity of being alone withAnne, to say, "Oh! Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing Mrs Charles had a little
of your method with those children. They are quite different creatures with
you! But to be sure, in general they are so spoilt! It is a pity you cannot put
your sister in the way of managing them. They are as fine healthy children
as ever were seen, poor little dears! without partiality; but Mrs Charles
knows no more how they should be treated--! Bless me! how troublesome
they are sometimes. I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see
-
8/21/2019 Persuasion Book
29/160
www.freeclassicebooks.com
29
them at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is
not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is very
bad to have children with one that one is obligated to be checking every
moment; "don't do this," and "don't do that;" or that one can only keep in
tolerable order by more cake than is good for them." She had this
communica